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Witnesses at State Homeland Security Hearing Called Anti-Muslim

Thursday, April 07, 2011

A month after Rep. Peter King's congressional hearing on the threat of radicalization among Muslims, a New York state legislator is set to conduct his own related, and controversial hearing. State Senator Gregory Ball of Putnam County will chair the Homeland Security hearing, set to examine terrorism and threats to sensitive sites such as the Indian Point nuclear power plant.

While embracing the stated purpose of the hearing — "To consider opportunities to improved New York State’s Homeland Security Operations and how far we have come since September 11th 2001" — a group of elected officials, Muslim groups and civil libertarians gathered to question Ball's motives.

"Fifteen minutes on the dangers posed to New Yorkers by the Indian Point power plant but 30 minutes on the dangers posed by sharia law," said Udi Ofer, of the New York Civil Liberties Union. "That says it all about the true intents behind Senator Greg Ball's hearing."

Ball's office did not return calls, but on his website, he wrote, "Nearly 10 years after 9-11, in my view, we still are not safe," adding that his hearing would include testimony from the head of the Entergy corporation, which runs Indian Point, as well as the head of security at the MTA.

But it's the presence of two other witnesses that drew fire from critics, namely Nonie Darwish and Frank Gaffney. Darwish is the author of "Cruel and Unusual Punishment: The Terrifying Global Implications of Global Islamic Law," and has called President Barack Obama a "political Muslim." Gaffney has claimed, without evidence, that the Obama administration has been infiltrated by the Muslim Brotherhood. Neither Gaffney nor Darwish could be reached for comment.

"What should be a very legitimate and serious discussion around homeland security and our preparedness level turns into an anti-immigrant circus," said Senator Adriano Espaillat.

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Arun Venugopal is a reporter and the creator of Micropolis, WNYC’s multi-platform series examining race, sexuality, religion, street life and other issues that define New York City. He has been with the station since 2005, and has covered a wide range of stories, including the death of Sean Bell, the controversy over the Park 51 mosque and community center and Occupy Wall Street .

Comments [3]

DeucePrez
from Washington, DC

Alhumdillah!!

Walid Shoebat, one of the posers to whom I alluded earlier, was FINALLY exposed by CNN as a FRAUD!! Of course, the Muslim community knew this years ago, but to have a non-Muslim source expose it simply adds credence to it!

Now, of course, the Islamaphobes are calling CNN "pro-Islamist", but they weren't making such declarations when CNN used Walid (wa-LIED) Shoebat as their "go-to" Mooslim only a few years ago.

Maybe now, all legit news sources will begin to vet their so-called "ex-Muslim/ex-terrorists" who could be just lookin' for the "almighty dollar" (DOLLAR$)!!

Waste our time and money when working people are hurting, impede and subvert law enforcements actual anti-terrorism efforts all while encouraging blind racism. It’s unconscionable to sew seeds of disunity in a time when we need unity of purpose. Once again, political opportunism willing to use any issue for selfish short-term gain.

Does he intend to ask Entergy about an Indian Point evacuation plan for surrounding area's including New York City? Or where the un-disposable nuclear waste goes, or the whereabouts of the pools of spent rods or leakage? We are already endangered.

How is it that Sen. Ball thinks it is appropriate to spend, no.....WASTE tax dollars on alleged experts (Nonie Darwish and Frank Gaffney) in the field on terrorism when the alleged expert are mere posers!

These posers' REAL agenda in to trash and bash Islam at any opportunity allowed to them and it is a travesty that Sen. Ball's not only giving them said platform to spew their anti-Islamic dribble, but it's being done at tax-payers expense!! :-(

In the meantime, those elected officials in position to do something to provide better national security are NOT seeking advice & training from REAL experts on terrorism. They aren't doing so and are either under the assumption that they've found said experts (i.e., the posers) or they, too, have the SAME anti-Islamic agenda as the posers and security is the furthest thing from their minds as well!

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